Bernama 9 Dec 11;
ALOR SETAR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- The Wrinkled hornbill was finally spotted in the Ulu Muda forest in Padang Terap, making it one of only two sites in Malaysia where all 10 hornbills species are found.
Earth Lodge Sdn Bhd Director, Hymeir Kamarudin said a pair of hornbills 'Rhyticeros corrugates' were seen flying across the Muda River near Earth Lodge, an ecolodge at Kuala Labua, Ulu Muda.
He said in a statement here Friday that the important sighting was made by the Lodge's guests, comprising prominent bird watchers.
"The all black belly, wing and top half of its long tall feathers together with its smaller size compared with the Wreath hornbill and Plain-pouched hornbill convinced all bird watchers that it was without a doubt, a Wrinkled hornbill," he said.
Prior to the sighting, Ulu Muda was known as the only site in Malaysia where the rare and globally endangered hornbill and Plain-pouched hornbill were found in large numbers and where nine of the 10 Malaysian hornbills species existed.
"The missing hornbill at that time was the Wrinkled hornbill," Hymeir said.
According to him, this large contiguous forest area was gaining popularity among local and foreign bird watching community as an important bird watching destination.
Hymeir said the Birdlife International and its Malaysian partner, Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) have listed Ulu Muda as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in their 2007 publication, 'Directory of Important Bird Areas in Malaysia - Key Sites for Conservation'.
"To date, Ulu Muda boasts of 260 species of birds. With all 10 species of Malaysian hornbills now recorded, Ulu Muda becomes an even more important area for biodiversity conservation and ecotourism," he said.
Ulu Muda area also serves as an important water catchment area for three dams, the Ahning, Pedu and Muda.
-- BERNAMA
